Tool with a sensor chip

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a tool, especially in a packaging machine, for closing cavities in packaging and/or sealing and cutting packaging. Said tool is raised and lowered by means of a lifting device. The invention also relates to a packaging machine comprising said tool and to a method for automatically adjusting the parameters of a packaging machine.

The present invention relates to a tool, especially in a packagingmachine, for deep-drawing of packaging cavities and/or sealing andcutting packaging whereby the tool is raised and lowered by a liftingdevice. The present invention further relates to a packaging machinecomprising said tool and a method for automatically adjusting theparameters of a packaging machine.

Nowadays, packaging machines may be operated with a plurality of tools.When these tools are changed, the machine parameters, such as, forexample, the top and bottom dead point of the lifting devices in thepackaging devices, and also the cooling and/or sealing temperatures haveto be reset. Since this is very laborious, in the past it was attemptedto standardise said tools, for example in their overall height, in orderto minimise the amount of adjustment. However, then said tools are notoptimally designed for the application in question.

Therefore, this invention is based on the object of providing toolsespecially for packaging machines that do not have the drawbacks of theprior art.

This task is resolved by a tool, especially in a packaging machine fordeep-drawing cavities in packaging and/or sealing and cutting packaging,in which said tool is raised and lowered by a lifting device, whereby asensor chip is integrated in the tool, the sensor comprising awrite/read data memory on which are stored data which identify the tooland/or contain setpoint values for the automatic adjustment ofadjustable machine parameters.

According to the invention, the tool comprises a write/read data memoryon which data are stored. These data may be on the one hand data suchas, for example, a sequence of digits enabling the unambiguousidentification of the tool so that an electronic device, for example acomputer or a process control system, arranged in the packaging machineidentifies the tool unambiguously and then assigns specific machineparameters to this tool and automatically adjusts them as appropriate.

Also according to the invention, the data memory comprises the setpointvalues for the automatic adjustment of the machine parameters. Anelectronic device, for example a computer or a process control system,reads these machine parameters from the data memory and automaticallyadjusts them as appropriate.

These machine parameters may be, for example, the top and bottom deadpoint of the lifting device with which the tool in question is lifted orlowered, the temperature to which the tool is heated or cooled and thecontact pressure with which the tool is pressed against another tool.

Preferably, the data memory comprises setpoint values for the top and,particularly preferably, also for the bottom dead point of the liftingdevice.

In another preferred embodiment, the data memory contains identificationdata enabling the unambiguous correlation and adjustment of the top andpreferably the bottom dead point of the lifting device. The correlationdata are preferably stored in a computer or a process control systemwhich is connected to the sensor chip.

These two preferred embodiments of the tool according to the inventionhave the advantage that the tool may be adjusted to the optimum height.The differing height is then automatically compensated by the adjustmentof the top and bottom dead point of the lifting device. The toolaccording to the invention avoids long change-over times and inparticular errors in the adjustment of machine parameters that couldresult in damage to the packaging machine and/or defective products.

A further object of the invention is a tool, in particular in apackaging machine, whereby installed in the tool there is a sensor chipcomprising a write/read data memory in which data are stored which areused as actual values for comparison with the data in a second datamemory assigned to the packaging machine whose data matched to the toolserve as setpoint values for a comparison of the actual and setpointvalues and the control of the packaging machine is designed so themachine cannot be put into operation if the actual values deviate fromthe setpoint values.

In the case of the tool according to the invention, first of all, it isguaranteed that it cannot be replaced by a tool not intended for thepackaging machine in question because in such a case, the comparison ofthe actual and setpoint values will fail and it will be impossible tostart the packaging machine. This also applies if a non-matching toolmade by the same manufacturer or a tool made by a different manufactureris installed; in both cases the operator will be made aware of the errorand the malfunction of the machine reliably avoided.

In addition, it is now possible that even with packaging machines of thetype in which, in addition to the tool, an associated mating component,for example the punch in the case of deep-drawing and/or the top tool inthe case of sealing, are replaceable, it may be guaranteed that the onlypairing possible is that with which the individual tools match eachother. If this is not the case, once again the controls of the packagingmachine prevent it from being started.

It is particularly advantageous with the aforementioned objects of theinvention if the sensor chip on the tool is provided in an enclosedhollow so that unauthorised people are unable to find it or manipulateit. Advantageously, the chip is countersunk in the hollow in such a waythat if it is discovered by chance, the data memory will be disabledupon removal and the sensor chip damaged. Also preferably, the sensorchip is attached to a tool, preferably detachably.

The tools according to the invention may be any tools that may bereplaced on a machine, in particular a packaging machine. However,preferably the tools are deep-drawing, sealing or cutting tools.

The best way to read the data from the data memories integrated in thetools in a packaging machine is if the sensor chip is coupled bybi-directional and wireless means to a transmitting and receiving systemwhich is arranged on the packaging machine or is mobile. Another objectof the invention is therefore a packaging machine of this type.

Preferably, the transmitting and receiving system is connected via anamplifier to a second data memory and/or an electronic machine control,for example a process control system, so that the data set of the toolmay be made readable and the data used either to start the packagingmachine or for the automatic adjustment of machine parameters. Thetransmitting and receiving system is particularly advantageouslyprovided in the immediate vicinity of the tool in question.

Advantageously, the transmitting and receiving system may also bemobile.

The packaging machine according to the invention has the advantage thatthe change-over times are minimal, that no errors can occur during theadjustment of the process parameters, and that it is impossible to usetool pairs that do not match.

Another object of the invention is a method for the automatic adjustmentof machine parameters when using the packaging machine according to theinvention in which, at least during the change-over of the packagingmachine, the data in the data memory of at least one tool are read andthen the electronic control automatically adjusts the adjustable machineparameters in accordance with the identification of the tool and/or thestored setpoint values.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the adjustment of themachine parameters is checked at least once by means of a comparison ofthe actual and setpoint values. Particular preferably, however, theadjustment will be checked at regular intervals in order in particularto ensure a consistent quality of the products made.

Preferably, all machine parameters which have to be adjusted on a toolchange are automatically adjusted by the electronics of the packagingmachine. However, particularly preferably at least the top and bottomdead point of the lifting device are automatically adapted to the tool.

The invention will now be further described with reference to FIGS. 1 to3. These explanations are examples only and do not restrict the generalconcept of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a tool according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is the packaging machine according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is the receiving and amplifying system.

FIG. 1 shows the tool 1 according to the invention. In this example, thetool is a deep-drawing matrix. A person skilled in the art willrecognise that the tool according to the invention could just as well bea sealing tool, a cutting tool or similar. A hollow 3 is provided in thetool 1 in which the sensor chip 2 is located. The hollow is sealed sothat the chip is not visible from the exterior and the chip is notexposed to any mechanical stresses.

FIG. 2 shows a part of a packaging machine according to the invention,the deep-drawing station. The film F1 is rolled off a roll V1 andtransported, for example by a chain drive, to the deep-drawing stationT. There, the film is fixed and heated with heating elements 9 wherebythe heating of the film may also take place before the deep-drawingstation. The tool 1 according to the invention is located on a liftingdevice 5 with which it is raised and lowered. As soon as the tool 1 isfixed to the lifting device, a transmitting and receiving system readsthe data on the sensor chip 2 located in the tool 1. These data are thenprocessed with a computer and this computer then controls the automaticadjustment of the machine parameters, such as, for example, the top andbottom dead points of the lifting device. The top and bottom dead pointsshould be understood to mean the top or bottom maximum lifting setting.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a device for data acquisition andprocessing according to the invention. The transmitting and receivingsystem 4 is connected bi-directionally via an amplifier 6 to a computer7 also bi-directionally. This computer 7 processes the received data andforwards them via an interface 8 to the control electronics of thepackaging machine which adjust the machine parameters and report theseadjustments back to the computer 7. The computer determines by means ofa comparison of the actual and setpoint values whether the adjustmentsare correct and only then releases the machine. The check whether thetool used matches the packaging machine and/or the mating components isperformed in a similar way.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A tool, in a packaging machine, for deep-drawing ofpackaging cavities, sealing and/or cutting packaging, whereby the toolis raised and lowered by a lifting device, wherein a sensor chip isintegrated in the tool, the sensor chip comprising a read/write datamemory in which data are stored which are used to identify the tooland/or contain set point values for the automatic adjustment ofadjustable machine parameters, wherein the sensor chip is provided in ahollow of the tool.
 15. A tool, in a packaging machine, for deep-drawingof packaging cavities, sealing and/or cutting packaging, whereby thetool is raised and lowered by a lifting device, wherein a sensor chip isintegrated in the tool, the sensor chip comprising a read/write datamemory in which data are stored which are used to identify the tooland/or contain set point values for the automatic adjustment ofadjustable machine parameters, wherein the sensor chip is provided in ahollow of the tool such that unauthorized people are unable to find itor manipulate it.
 16. The tool according to claim 14, wherein the sensorchip is countersunk in the hollow such that the data memory is disabledupon removal of the sensor chip.
 17. The tool according to claim 15,wherein the sensor chip is countersunk in the hollow such that the datamemory is disabled upon removal of the sensor chip.
 18. The toolaccording to claim 14, the tool being provided as a deep-drawing,sealing or cutting tool.
 19. A packaging machine having at least onetool, the tool being used for deep-drawing packaging cavities and/orsealing and cutting packaging, wherein said tool is raised and loweredby a lifting device, wherein a sensor chip is integrated in the tool,the sensor chip comprising a write/read data memory in which data arestored which are used to identify the tool and/or contain set pointvalues for the automatic adjustment of adjustable machine parameters,wherein the sensor chip is provided in a hollow of the tool and whereinthe sensor chip is countersunk in the hollow such that the data memoryis disabled upon removal of the sensor chip.
 20. The packaging machineaccording to claim 19, wherein an electronic control automatically setsspecific machine parameters on the basis of the identification of thetool.
 21. The packaging machine according to claim 20, wherein thesensor chip is coupled by bi-directional and wireless means to atransmitting and receiving system, said transmitting and receivingsystem being arranged on the exterior of the packaging machine or ismobile, wherein the packaging machine comprises a second data memory,said second data memory contains actual values, wherein the set pointvalues stored in the read/write data memory of the tool are used as setpoint values and compared with the actual values stored in the seconddata memory of the packaging machine.
 22. The packaging machineaccording to claim 21, wherein the packaging machine is controlled sothat said machine cannot be put into operation if the set point valuesdeviates from the actual values.